I have not had too much experience in actuality with an electronic stethoscope. However when I worked hospice, I had a patient with critical aortic stenosis and the medical director recorded her heart sounds with his electronic stethoscope with the intent of introducing the sound of it to the other nurse and me. He specifically instructed to listen to the differences in sound between the traditional stethoscope vs. the electronic one in that case.With an electronic stethoscope, the sound of the stenosis is very pronounced and you can easily visualize the way the valves ineffectively and very quickly flutter and flap as the heart pumps, which makes it easy to visualize why she was not getting enough blood - and therefore oxygen - out to her periphery. We could hear how advanced hers was. It was easy to understand, then, why she was at risk for what he called “sudden drop syndrome” (very quick death).The definition with a regular stethoscope was definitely not the same, and I used a Littman’s (midline price range - my MIL had gifted me with one that cost $120 when I graduated from nursing school) - I could hear A LOT with that one.Not only was it a great A&P lesson about what was going on with that patient’s heart valves, but it was a very effective way to teach that heart sound. To this day, I will remember it based on that instruction.
I definitely prefer the look of a traditional stethoscope but I've never had an electronic one used on me or been lucky enough to use one....yet.
Of course, the answer for me is both! I like the traditional steths the best, especially a Tychos triple head. I love putting that heavy chest piece in position and laying my hand on top of it to press it down. Plus, you have three excuses to listen longer! I have an electronic steth and it’s interesting but just not the same turn on.